Roadrunners successfully defend Rice Intercollegate crown

HOUSTON — Led by Ryan Werre's one-under-par 71 in the final round, UTSA captured its second straight Rice Intercollegiate title on Tuesday at Westwood Golf Club (par 72/7,184 yards).

The Roadrunners entered the final day in a tie with Cincinnati for the lead at five-over 581 through 36 holes. UTSA carded a six-over 294 against the Bearcats' 298 and also held off Sam Houston State, which posted a 286, in registering the program's third overall victory at the Rice Intercollegiate and 23rd all-time tournament championship.

"I'm very proud of how the guys hung in there throughout the tournament," head coach John Knauer said. "We started the first round poorly and rallied to finish that with the lead. We played solid in round two to help put ourselves in contention entering today. It was tight coming down the stretch, but we were solid all the way through the lineup. It is very gratifying to see our guys earn these fruits for their hard labor."

The Birds finished the 54-hole event at 11-over 290-291-294—875, three strokes ahead of Sam Houston State (878). Cincinnati was third (879), followed by Old Dominion (880) and Rice (887) in the 15-team field.

Werre finished in a tie for third place with Preston Stanley of Houston Baptist at two-under 214. The senior posted his second straight 71 after opening with a 72 on Monday morning, and he was three shots off the pace set by individual medalist Jamison Randall of Old Dominion (72-70-69—211). The Redcliff, Alberta, native led the field in par-five scoring (4.25) in posting his third consecutive top-10 showing at the event (t4th in 2012, t10th in 2013) and matching his career-best finish done twice previously at the 2013 UTSA Oak Hills Invitational and 2011 Southland Conference Championship.

Garrison Lackey fired a 74 on Tuesday and finished in a tie for eighth at two-over 218 (70-74-74), the third top 10 of his UTSA career. Bryce Alley was two shots back in a tie for 13th at 220 (72-72-76) for the top finish of his freshman campaign. Brett Hogan turned in the second-best round of the day for the Roadrunners — a 73 — to help him climb into a tie for 18th at 223 (76-74-73), while J.J. Lindsey rounded out the lineup in a tie for 56th (78-78-77—233).

"We learned that James Ragan, a former Rice golfer, passed away last night after a long battle with cancer," Knauer said. "Our program sends our heartfelt prayers and condolences to his family and Rice University, and we dedicate this performance to him."

The Roadrunners will stay in the Greater Houston Area and compete at this weekend's Bayou City Collegiate Championship. The three-day tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday at The Golf Club of Houston in Humble.